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MESSAGE

Page 3

st
Blast from the pa

FROM THE BOARD
I was absolutely delighted to be
able to attend a special ceremony
in London recently where it was
announced that Nottinghamshire
Healthcare has been rated as the
12th best healthcare provider to
work for in the UK.

Our ranking in
the Healthcare
100 list also
placed us as 3rd
best in terms of
mental health and
learning disability
organisations and
the top such
provider in the
county. The
Healthcare 100 is
compiled from
results from
employee surveys,
so it really means a lot that the rating
is based on the opinions of the people
that work in the Trust. We are really
appreciative of all our staff who work
so hard. Thank you for what you do.
The assessment being carried out by
Monitor to determine our suitability
for accreditation of equivalent of
Foundation Trust status continues. So
far, 1,307 pieces of evidence have
been provided and as you read this, I
and the rest of the Board will have
been interviewed by Monitor’s Board
and senior representatives from the
Department of Health, marking the
final stage of assessment.
As this edition of the newsletter goes
to print, the Government has just
published the White Paper ‘Equity
and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’,
which outlines proposals for what has
been reported as the most radical
shake up of the NHS. The future
plans will see GPs becoming
responsible for managing the way in
which NHS money is spent, hospitals
encouraged to become independent
and patients offered more choice. We
will be looking at the implications for
the Trust and the services we provide
and keep you up to date on any
developments as a result.

This photo was taken in 1963 of a group from Cropwell Bishop youth centre on
a charity walk. Three of the youngsters pictured can now be found working in
Facilities and Estates at Duncan Macmillan House. Can you spot Peter
Musgrove, Malcolm Pepper and Norman Wood? See page 4 for the answer.

Secretary of State visits Trust
stand at national conference
Nottinghamshire Healthcare
joined forces with West London
and Mersey Care Mental Health
Trusts to exhibit at this year’s
NHS Confederation Annual
Conference.
The three Trusts, which are the only
NHS Trusts in the country to provide
high secure services, used the exhibition
as an opportunity to showcase their
work and to dispel some of the myths
around the specialist care they deliver.
The stand received a great deal of
interest from attendees including a very
special visit from Andrew Lansley,
Secretary of State for Health, who
spent some time meeting
Alan Yates, Chief Executive Mersey Care, Peter Cubbins,
Chief Executive West London, Mike Cooke, Chief
Executive Nottinghamshire Healthcare, and
Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health

representatives from the three Trusts and
discussing the care they provide.
Held in Liverpool in June, the three day
conference was attended by more than
1,450 delegates who had the opportunity
to share experiences through networking,
presentations and participating in a
range of break out sessions.
Delegates were also able to hear from a
range of guest speakers including Andrew
Lansley, who reiterated his vision for a
health service that is truly patientcentred, and Sir David Nicholson, NHS
Chief Executive, who emphasised the
importance of empowering others and
encouraged delegates to remain focused
on the purpose of improving the quality
of services.

The Trust’s Centre for Trauma,
Resilience and Growth recently
marked its 10th anniversary with a
special conference, Psychological
Responses to Trauma, Resilience and
Growth which featured nationally
and internationally renowned trauma
experts and was opened by Terry
Waite CBE.

psychology and a great way to celebrate
the Centre’s anniversary.”

Mr Waite gave an enthralling address
before answering questions from the
audience, speaking of his personal
experience of trauma, of his time spent
in captivity and the coping strategies he
employed. Commenting on the Centre,
he said: “Through the Trust, Nottingham
has established itself as a major centre
for both research and practice in the field
of trauma. Ten years ago I visited to open
the Centre and the work has gone from
strength to strength since that time.”
Other speakers at the event held at the
Jubilee Campus of The University of
Nottingham included James Pennebaker,
Professor of Psychology, University of
Texas, USA, Atle Dyregrov, Centre for
Crisis Psychology, Bergen, Norway,
Gordon Turnbull, Visiting Professor,
University of Chester, Stephen Joseph,
Professor of Psychology, Health & Social
Care at the University of Nottingham,
Bill Yule, Emeritus Professor of Applied
Child Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry,
London, Arlene Healey, Family Trauma
Centre Belfast and Dr Walter Busuttil,
Director of Medical Services, Combat
Stress.
Stephen Regel, Principal Psychotherapist
and Co-director of the Centre said: “We
were privileged that Terry Waite gave the
opening address and also delighted that
so many recognised experts in the field
shared their knowledge and experience
at the conference. It truly was a unique
opportunity for attendees to hear from
so many experts in trauma and crisis

Over the past ten years more than 1000
clients have been seen at the Centre; the
only one of its kind between London and
Aberdeen. It offers a range of therapeutic
services for adults who have experienced
traumatic stress including that arising from
road traffic accidents, industrial accidents,
as victims of serious crime, refugees and
Asylum Seekers, Veterans, and survivors of
major incidents in the UK and abroad.
The Centre brings together the Trauma
Service situated within Nottinghamshire
Healthcare and the Research Group for
the Study of Trauma, Resilience, and
Growth situated within the Centre for
Social Work in the University of
Nottingham's School of Sociology and
Social Policy. The partnership is dedicated
to providing therapy, consultancy,
education and research into trauma. It
provides an umbrella for practitioners and
researchers working locally in the NHS and
the University to meet and develop
research and effective evidence based
therapeutic methods. The full spectrum of
functioning is a focus, from post traumatic
stress to post traumatic growth.
Consultancy and training has been
delivered to the International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
Ministry of Defence Civilian Welfare
Services, Nottinghamshire Constabulary
and Fire and Rescue, emergency services
throughout the UK, The Family Trauma
Centre, Belfast NHS Trust and many
diverse partners ranging from international
bodies to small locally based community
organisations.
The Centre has also been acting as advisor
to Victim Support’s new Homicide Service,
which is a recent national initiative to
support individuals and families affected
by homicide.

Two Nottingham City services have
been reorganised and expanded to
improve care.
The Community Assessment and
Treatment Service (CATS) has been in
existence since October 2008 with five
staff assessing cases referred to them.
10 more staff, including social
workers, have now joined this team,
enabling it to see all new referrals into
City Services and to work with people
for up to 12 months, providing short
term focused treatments including
access to social services.
The CATS team is temporarily based at
Foster Drive in Nottingham and will be
moving to Phase 3 of Highbury when
it opens in October. For any further
information please contact the team
manager, Gemma Poulter, on 0115
966 1088.
The Recovery Service works with
people with longer term needs. The
team has the Recovery philosophy at
its heart and aims to help people with
long term issues to regain
independence and control in their
lives. People who use this service will
be supported to understand and
manage their difficulties and to take
steps to fulfil dreams and goals
including voluntary or paid
employment. The Recovery Service is
based at the Stonebridge Centre and
managed by Tracey Taylor. Tracey can
be contacted on 0115 955 5446.
These two services replace the
community mental health teams
(CMHTs) which were previously based
at The Stonebridge Centre, Rosebery
House and Regent Street.
In addition to these changes a peer
support worker project is being piloted
via the Recovery Service. Peer support
worker posts have been designed to
employ people who use the service to
make use of their personal experience
of mental distress to inspire hope for
recovery in others. For further
information about this please contact
Nicole Hunter, Co-ordinator for the
Peer Support Project, or Tracey Taylor,
both at the Stonebridge Centre on
0115 955 5446.

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Page 5

Standing up
for Action
Against
Elder Abuse

Street art at Wathwood
During one week in
April a group of patients
from across all three
wards at Wathwood
Hospital joined a
resident street artist and
occupational therapy
staff to produce a street
art style mural for the
sports hall.
Patients were involved at
all stages from planning
the design and taking part

in a street art workshop
through to the final
completion of the mural.
The image depicts a
sporting theme and adds a
new dimension to the
environment, reflecting
current culture and a
modern approach to art.
Patients who were involved
commented that they
enjoyed the experience
and the opportunity to be

Doctor retires
after 26 years
working with
Rushcliffe's elderly
Family members and colleagues past and
present attended a retirement party in
June to bid farewell to Dr Jonathan
Waite. Dr Waite has been a consultant
psychiatrist in older people’s mental
health for over twenty years. He is highly
respected and popular with both his
patients and colleagues and has worked
tirelessly for the rights of others
throughout his career.
Dr Waite graduated from Edinburgh

creative and that they
benefited from the sense
of accomplishment and
working as a team. They
also felt that they had
helped produce something
that looks good and
developed their skills in
spray painting. We would
like to thank all patients,
staff and the street artist
for all their contributions
and hard work in
producing the mural.

University in Pharmacology (1973) and
Medicine (1976). He has specialised in
psychiatry since 1977. After working as a
junior doctor in Edinburgh he came to
Nottingham in 1981 and since 1984 he
has been a full time NHS Consultant in
the Psychiatry of Old Age. In 2001 he
gained a degree in Mental Health Law
from the University of Northumbria. He is
Lord Chancellor's Medical Visitor for the
Midlands and East Anglia and contributed
to the BMA/Law Society book Assessment
of Mental Capacity. He has a wide interest
in psychiatry of old age and has published
research on the epidemiology and
treatment of dementia, the provision of
services and on legal aspects of psychiatry.
The community team at Lings Bar Hospital
has worked with Dr Waite for 18 years
and all will miss his unique humour, his
photographic memory, and his thirst for
hard work.
Dr Waite has been a constant and
reassuring presence in the health service.
He will be missed both locally and
nationally and by none more than his
colleagues and patients.
Dr Waite and wife Pam accept gifts at his retirement party.

4

The Trust’s Older People’s
Services teamed up with Age
Concern to take part in a
national push to raise awareness
of abuse of the elderly.
Sharon Howe, Modern Matron, and
Ruth Coffey from Age Concern
manned an information stand in
Café Art, Duncan Macmillan
House over lunch on Tuesday 15
June as part of World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day.
Sharon and Ruth set up posters
and displays and gave out leaflets
and pens, along with plenty of
verbal information. They also
raised a small sum of money from a
raffle, which has been sent to the
charity Action Against Elder Abuse.
“The event was really well
attended,” said Sharon. “People
came and talked about their
experiences and we had a lot of
interest. It is a subject that we need
to be engaged with – we are all going
to be ‘elders’ one day.”
Events took place all around the
country on the same day to highlight
the need for action against elder
abuse. Elderly abuse takes various
forms: physical, psychological,
financial, sexual and neglect. It is
estimated that half a million older
people are abused and neglected
every day in their own homes by
people they thought they could
trust.

Home grown vegetables for
Heather Close residents
Service users at Heather Close
Recovery Unit in Mansfield are
growing vegetables to feed
themselves and their neighbours.

Peter Holmes is one of the service users
involved. We asked him about his
gardening:
What gardening have you done?
We’ve got a greenhouse and raised beds.
We’ve grown vegetables and various
plants, and have planted some new trees
around the site. We’ve also started a
wildlife and wildflower garden and a
sensory garden for us all to relax in.

The unit has a successfully established
garden run by the service users on the
unit. Over the past two years the service
users have planted and grown tomatoes,
potatoes, onions, radishes, beetroot,
carrots and spring onions, amongst others.
The finished produce is then shared
How did you learn how to garden?
among the bungalows for all to enjoy.
We have a small amount of knowledge
anyway, and we’ve asked other
keen gardeners for advice. We
Peter Holmes with some of the fruits
also use books and visit garden
(and vegetables) of his labours.
centres for advice and ideas.
What do you think you’ve
got out of gardening?
I enjoy growing things, and it
gives me something to do.
When the vegetables are
grown we distribute the
healthy, home grown food
around the unit so that
everyone can enjoy it. When
people see how we’ve grown
our own vegetables it
encourages them to join us.

organise a service user
fishing group at Sutton
Lawn in Sutton, North
Notts.
The monthly fishing
sessions bring service
users together and help
close the generation gap
as experienced fishermen
share their skills with
newer anglers.

All instruction, tackle,
bait and day licence are
provided free of charge for
Trust service users from
the North Notts area.
If you know of anyone
who would like to join the
group please contact John
Greenacre on 0783 776
3190 or Sue Todd on
01623 785903.

Service users gain
horticulture skills
A group of 15 service users has achieved
City & Guilds Level 1 qualifications in
horticultural skills after working through
the worst British winter for 30 years.
The course was run in partnership with
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) at the
university’s Brackenhurst campus in
Southwell. None of the students had
worked in a glasshouse or grounds
before and the course posed many
challenges – not least of which was
making the journey by public transport
to and from the campus.
From week two, however, the students’
self esteem and confidence grew. The
atmosphere was always relaxed and
welcoming and both the course leader
and the NTU tutor agreed the group
was a pleasure to teach. Their thirst for
knowledge and work ethic was fantastic
and the success of the course is a credit
to the students in maintaining their
attendance, enthusiasm and their thirst
for horticultural knowledge.
Dave Jukes, Lecturer in Horticulture
Science at the University, said: “This
course has been a huge success in terms
of attendance and retention of the
students for the entire duration of the
course.
“The way the students responded to the
challenges they faced this year has been
an inspiration to all my colleagues here
at NTU and we have seen marked
positive changes and growing ambitions
in many of the students. I hope we can
continue and grow this initiative well
into the future”.
The organisers are now looking into the
possibility of arranging a level two
course and hope that individual students
may provide peer support for the next
group of level one students.

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Involvement Team visits Contemporary Gallery
Four members of the Involvement
Team visited the new Nottingham
Contemporary Gallery’s third exhibition
‘Uneven Geography’ in June.

John Harrison, Darren Ward and Michael –
explored separate rooms, studying one of
the exhibits and making notes. Then they
changed rooms and made notes on each
others’ chosen exhibit.

The visit, organised by Michael Osborne,
Service User Volunteer, included the
company of an artist employed by the
gallery who planned an interactive session
for the service users.

The artist led a discussion on the chosen
works which ended with the visitors
working together to produce a piece of
work in the style of one of the exhibits.

Each of the visitors – Catherine Swain,

It was a very interesting, educational and

Arson Treatment
Team presents at
international
forensic mental
health conference

The Arson Treatment Team from the
National High Secure Healthcare Service
for Women at Rampton Hospital was
delighted to present a conference
symposium in May at the 10th Annual
Conference of the International
Association of Forensic Mental Health
Services in Vancouver, Canada.
The team, consisting of Phyllis
Annesley, Consultant Clinical
Psychologist and Arson
Treatment Programme Lead,
Leonie Davison, Nursing Team
Leader, and Christopher
Colley, Nursing Team
Leader, addressed
‘Developments in
providing arson
treatment for
women at the
National High
Secure Healthcare
Service for Women’.

inspiring afternoon and was thoroughly
enjoyed by all.
Michael is organising a similar visit with an
artist to the next exhibition of works by
Diane Arbus (Photographer) and Gert and
Uwe Tobias (Artists) which starts in midJuly at the Nottingham Contemporary
Gallery. Anyone interested please contact
mike2osborne@yahoo.co.uk or 07890
871769. Places will be limited to twelve
and are open to service users/carers only.

Delegates from around the world attended
the symposium. Dr Susan Kim, Institutional
Psychologist from British Columbia,
Canada said: “The presentation was one
of the most helpful and enjoyable
presentations I attended”. Ms Alyson
Lang, General Manager within The Peaks
Unit, Rampton Hospital, similarly said:
“This was one of the best presentations
that I attended at the conference. I
thoroughly enjoyed the style of the
delivery – it was factual, explaining
the theoretical background to
developing and delivering arson
treatment and giving examples of the
therapeutic work delivered by the
team. The presentation captured the
full attention of the audience.”
The team is extremely grateful for the
support received from Dr Mike Harris,
Dr John Wallace, Mr Richard Phipps,
Ms Helen Watkinson, Ms Ged Picton,
Ms Sarah Ilett and Ms Kerry Reynolds.

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Staff make dignity the real deal for patients
Nursing staff have been inspired by the Royal College of
Nursing’s dignity initiative to reflect on the care they give
and make it even more patient-focused, showing how
small changes can make a big difference.
Teams from the Trust’s Mental Health Services for Older
People exhibited the practical changes they have introduced
on their wards to champion the dignity of patients at a
‘Dignity Celebration’ held in June.

Jennifer Doohan, the RCN’s Professional Development
Officer in the East Midlands, delivered dignity awareness
sessions and presented certificates to staff who took part. She
said: “It was a privilege to see the thought and hard work
that nursing staff have invested in promoting the dignity of
their patients and the pride with which they presented the
work they had done.”

Colleagues also took part in a dignity awareness
training programme organised by the Royal College of
Nursing (RCN) regional office in partnership with
Sharon Howe, a RCN member and matron of the older
people’s mental health service in Nottingham.
One of the most striking developments is the use of
memory quilts, which enable inpatients with dementia
to sit together and recall significant moments in local
and world history by seeing pictures and touching
items embroidered on to a quilt.
The quilts are designed by Sheila Harris, the wife of
ward manager Rod Harris, and are now in use on the
Silver Birch ward and in the Autumn Unit at
Highbury Hospital.
Other displays showcased how care practices and procedures
have been reviewed to ensure patients’ needs are prioritised.

Staff display one of the memory quilts used in the
care and support of older people with dementia.

Making Disability Equality a reality
On 22 June, the Trust held its 3rd
Annual Disability Network Event. The
purpose of the day was to share good
practice and provide networking
opportunities, while demonstrating our
commitment to all
Equality and Diversity
strands, including
Disability Equality.

Professor Mike Cooke, Chief Executive,
opened the event by thanking everyone
for their support in helping the Trust
achieve 13th place in the Disability
Standard 2009. This highlighted many
successes, but like any good
benchmarking tool, also identified gaps.
Accordingly an action plan has been put
in place which is being implemented by
the Disability Equality Steering Group
and monitored at Board level by the
Trustwide Equality and Diversity Sub
Committee of the Trust Board.
A number of speakers provided
updates, shared good practice and
demonstrated their wares on
the day. They included Ailsa
Fairley, Trust Disability

Awareness Trainer and Dee Caunt from
the Nottinghamshire Dyslexia
Association. There was a demonstration
from Evac Chair International Ltd, an
update on the Disability Discrimination
Act access audit by John Clarke and
Steve Winfield, a HR update from Jackie
Cyrnik and an overview of Disability
Direct from Charlotte Throssel.
Delegates participated in group
discussions, listened to the experts and
networked with key speakers and other
staff. Feedback confirmed that it was a
very successful and thought-provoking
event which covered a variety of
disabilities both visible and non-visible,
and overall, was an interesting and
enjoyable day.

Janet Sheard, Executive
Director, Nursing and Allied
Health Professionals presents
Trevor Corney with a gift
from the Trust to
commemorate his retirement
as Chair of the Disability
Equality Steering Group.

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Modernising
library services

during the transitional period, although
electronic resources will still be available
and can be accessed via the Libraries
Intranet page.

The Library Service is changing to
better meet the needs of Trust staff
and students. As part of this process
Rampton Hospital Library is moving to
a new purpose built facility in the
Mike Harris Learning and Development
Centre, based outside the secure area.

Other developments taking place across
Trust Library Services include a combined
library catalogue which covers the stock at
Duncan Macmillan House, Rampton
Hospital and Wathwood, and a single
library membership across all three
libraries. The Library Services team has
also increased investment in e-books,
e-journals and databases. All these
developments make it easier for
colleagues to access library resources
wherever they are based in the Trust.

The new facility will have a modern, fresh
look with co-ordinated furniture and a
purpose built library counter and shelving.
Wireless networking is also planned and
will be available in the near future.
Being situated in the new learning centre
brings additional benefits, making the
library an integral part of the training and
learning experience.
The existing library facility closes on 16
August and the new library will open on
23 August. No services will be available

There are further plans to improve Library
Services over the coming months. Watch
this space for updates. In the meantime,
the team would appreciate colleagues’
feedback and thoughts on how the Trust
Library Service can better meet your
needs. You can feed back through the
Library Feedback option on the Libraries
Intranet page or through local library staff.

Carer support group a
success in Bassetlaw
The Bassetlaw Carer Support Group
has been providing a forum for
carers to share experiences, learn
and support each other for more
than a year, and a recent evaluation
showed it fills a valuable role.
The group was set up in April 2009 and
is aimed at people who care for loved
ones who are experiencing a mental
health illness. It is facilitated by
volunteer and carer Sarah Blaydes and
Andrea Emmens, Family Interventions
Co-ordinator, but the group is very
much carer-led.
Carers who attend the
group regularly find it a
valuable use of time,
giving them the
chance to talk to
healthcare
professionals
but, more
importantly, to
other carers,
enabling them
to share their
experiences,

8

stories and worries. As one carer has said:
“I no longer feel alone”.
The first meeting last year identified that
the carers needed to know more about
their rights as carers, medication, the crisis
team and other topics. To address this
need specific sessions have been arranged
on these topics with members of staff from
the relevant teams attending. All carers
have found these sessions very valuable
and have asked for more
like them.
Some of the members
of the Bassetlaw
Carer Support
Group.

Arnold Lodge patients
contribute to forensic
nursing text
Patients at Arnold Lodge have
contributed to a new book, Forensic
Nursing: Ethics, Debates, Dilemmas.
The book is co-edited by Dr Richard Byrt,
Lecturer-Practitioner, Nursing at Arnold
Lodge and the School of Nursing and
Midwifery, De Montfort University. It
covers ethics, debates and dilemmas in
forensic nursing in secure hospitals,
prisons and the community and includes
accounts by individuals with experience
as patients, survivors of offences and
various professionals. It will be published
later this year.
Five Arnold Lodge patients (current and
former) contributed to the book. Three
former Cannock ward patients wrote
about their experiences of moral reasoning
groups as part of a chapter on this topic;
another individual wrote a chapter about
her experience of Coniston ward and “Billy
B” (a pseudonym) dictated a chapter and
other contributions on his previous
experiences in high secure hospitals. All
these people volunteered to contribute to
the book and did so with the full consent
and support of their consultants and ward
managers. Other contributors included
several Arnold Lodge professionals.
This is the fourth forensic nursing book to
include accounts by Arnold Lodge patients
and staff, and Richard Byrt is very grateful
for all contributions to the four texts.

Comments taken from a recent evaluation
include: “I’ve made some really good
friends and found other things to do since
joining the group. I’ve even joined as a
member at Rosewood Involvement Centre.”
“It’s great; finally I’ve met others who are
going through something similar to myself.”
The group meets on the first Tuesday of
each month from 1.30pm to 3pm in
Group Room 1 at the Mental Health
Unit at Bassetlaw Hospital. Meeting
dates for the rest of 2010 are 7
September, 5 October, 2
November, 7 December.
For more information please
contact Sarah Blaydes on 01623
835210 or Andrea Emmens on
01909 502210.

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Peace and tranquility
in Rampton’s gardens
In the centre of Rampton Hospital amongst all the
major building developments are a garden and
small animal unit – both the result of hard work
and dedication by a team of technical instructors
and patients from all directorates in the hospital.
The unit offers a wide range
of skills and activities to
patients, with high numbers
asking for the opportunity to
work on the unit. Those who
have worked there are all
extremely proud of what they
have achieved.
It’s not only patients working
on the unit who benefit from
the area; wards and therapy
groups pre-arrange visits to
enjoy the peace and
tranquility, from the calming
effect of the Koi pond to

animals that are used as part
of patient therapy. The unit is
also visited by staff looking
for some time out to relax
and the area is a haven for
wildlife with regular visits
from lesser spotted and green
woodpeckers, greenfinches,
bullfinches, goldfinches,
wagtails and more.
This year the team has
planted around 80 hanging
baskets and has an extensive
range of bedding plants. The
quality of the baskets has

Pathfinder pilot project
In 2009 all doctors wishing to practice medicine in the UK
were issued with a License to Practice. As part of the
Revalidation Process to determine that doctors are up to
date and remain fit to practice, the General Medical Council
needs “positive assurance” that doctors are practicing in
accordance with the expected standards, a system of
Strengthened Medical Appraisal is being piloted.
In 2009, NHS organisations were asked to apply to pilot this
Strengthened Medical Appraisal for Revalidation in their area and
there was an overwhelming enthusiasm across the country to be
involved. Derbyshire Mental Health Services and Nottinghamshire
Healthcare were successful in a joint bid to become one of 10
pilot sites, the only sole Mental Health pilot site to be chosen.
These pilots will run until March 2011 and will test the proposed
processes for revalidation and appraisal work in practice;
contribute to information on the costs and benefits of revalidation
that are needed to plan the implementation and to help NHS and
other organisations prepare for successful implementation.
Medical revalidation is supported by the General Medical Council,
the Department of Health, NHS Employers, Medical Royal
Colleges and Devolved Governments of the UK.
Doctors across both Trusts are signing up to take part in this
project and training is underway for those wishing to take part.
If you would like to find out more about this, please
contact Jackie Edmondston, Pathfinder Project lead via
email Jackie.edmondston@derbysmhservices.nhs.uk,
or telephone on 01332 623733

Catherine Pope

become widely known,
prompting more and more
orders. The team has also had
a regular display of plants
and vegetables for sale on
their purpose built market
stall and all the money
earned comes back into the
NHS budget.
Being out in the fresh air,
undertaking the physical
exercise that gardening
demands, working with
nature and nurturing plants
all help to improve patients’

health and wellbeing, building
self-esteem and developing
social skills whilst working
alongside others.
One of our service users
recently commented:
“Learning how to do
gardening and how to plant
flowers makes me happy,
takes things off my mind and
I can take things I have
learned out into the
community with me. I always
sleep better when I’ve been
on the gardens.”

Trust colleague elected to
Mental Health Network Board
Catherine Pope, the Trust’s Associate Director: Allied
Health Professionals, has been appointed Director of
Therapies on the Mental Health Network Board.
The Mental Health Network is part of the NHS
Confederation, an independent body that works for health
providers. The network’s Board steers the work programme,
aiming to raise the profile of mental health and helping to
shape and change policy and share best practice.
This is the first time a director of therapies representative
has sat on the Board and Catherine is looking forward to
getting involved. “I was quite shocked
when I found out I’d been
appointed,” she said, “but it’s
very exciting as well. I
passionately believe that allied
health professionals can really
benefit service users so it’s a
great opportunity to showcase
that and try and improve
access for service users to
allied health professionals.”
Appointments to the Board are
made by a process of selfnomination followed by
voting. Catherine will
hold the position for the
next three years.

Book launch: Pathway to Discovery
Lecturer Brendon Stone of Sheffield
University gave his personal account of
the book launch: “I was glad to be
asked to support the publication of
‘Pathway to Discovery’. The book spoke
to me personally in the emphasis on
With the help of the Peaks Education
journeys, on education and on discovery.
Team, the book ‘Pathway to Discovery’ In particular, I liked the focus on learning
made its entrance on to the Peaks Unit through paying attention to our everyday
at Rampton Hospital with great success lives. In this view of the world, every day
and enthusiasm. The launch took place is a classroom and life is a teacher. Our
during a lunchtime and was attended
job, perhaps, is to be open to the lessons
by some 30 guests and visitors,
life has to teach us. I like this because at
including Sarah Spurry from Learning
dark times life can appear meaningless
and Skills Implement Service, Dick
and useless, but perhaps even in
Machin, publisher, and Brendon Stone, moments like this there are positive
University Lecturer. Eleven patients,
lessons to be learned; therefore perhaps
each of whom made a contribution to there is always a possibility for us to find
the book, also attended the event.
meaning, learn and grow. Of course, it’s
not always easy to think like this, but I
‘Pathway to Discovery’ is intended to
find it a helpful idea which I will do my
help those taking their first steps on a
best to remember.”
personal journey towards discovering
new experiences and emotions, and to For more information about the book
enable those who wish to record and
contact Perdita Jackson on 01777 880446
store the progress of their journey.
or email perdita.jackson@nottshc.nhs.uk.

A book written by patients for
patients was launched in June
with four unique patient
perspective presentations.

Trust named as
top employer
The Trust has been named as one of the top
100 healthcare providers to work for in the
UK. It was rated as the 12th best employer
in the country in the Healthcare 100 list,
moving up in position from last year, and
the third best in terms of mental health and
learning disability organisations and the
top such provider in the East Midlands.
The list is run by Health Service Journal (HSJ) and Nursing
Times and research partner Ipsos MORI in association with
the Department of Health and NHS Employers. It is based
on polling of employees of registering organisations and is

10

Ian Fidler, Clinical Security Manager at
Rampton Hospital and Chris Sharpe,
formerly Head of Security with the
Hospital, have been working with the
Department of Health (DH) to develop a
Clinical Security Framework, which will
be hosted by the DH and be publically
available. The Framework is also going
to be endorsed formally by the DH.
The framework, which has taken four years to
develop, follows on from the Directions of the
Tilt review into security at all three high secure
Hospitals in England and provides a common
measure and language for managing security
within such specialist services.
Where commonalities are to be found there
is clear guidance on how to interpret
directions, whilst there is also the ability to
manage local circumstances.
The Local Clinical Security Framework for
Rampton Hospital, reflecting the
amendments contained within Version 2 of
the National Framework, has direct
references to our local procedures, ensuring
that our particular geographical and physical
circumstances are accounted for.
This has been a major piece of work and the
team involved are justifiably proud of the
contribution that they have made to the safe
running of these three hospitals. Well done.

open to both NHS and independent healthcare providers in
the acute, primary care, mental health and ambulance sectors.
The 2010 field was bigger than last year, with an increase of
39% of organisations involved and 35,000 staff responding.
Organisations featured in the Healthcare 100 are applauded
for their leadership and for empowering and engaging staff.
Nottinghamshire Healthcare was highlighted for its training
and development opportunities and staff praised the working
atmosphere with one respondent reporting: “We work hard
but there are also opportunities to laugh.”
Mike Cooke, Chief Executive said: “I am delighted that once
again we have been identified as a top organisation to work
for. The fact that our rating directly reflects the way staff feel
about working in the Trust means a great deal. I think we are
an outstanding organisation and this is purely down to the
hard work and commitment of our staff who work to ensure
we provide the best quality care to our service users and their
carers. Thank you to you all for your efforts.”

Positive August 2010:twc news

4/8/10

Releasing
Time to
Care one
year on
The Releasing Time to Care Team
is celebrating its first anniversary
after a productive and exciting
year working alongside
inpatient colleagues to roll out
Releasing Time to Care;
Productive Mental Health Ward.
Releasing Time to Care (RTtC) is a
programme developed by the NHS
Institute for Innovation to enable teams
to increase the amount of time they

Everyone taking part works through an
intensive sixteen week project facilitation
followed by ongoing support to complete
eleven modules. Once an area has begun
the process, it becomes a continuous
cycle of evaluation and improvement.

Thirteen wards are currently rolling out
Releasing Time to Care within three cohorts.
Cohort 1 has completed the foundation
modules; cohort 2 has completed the initial
16 week project facilitation to support them
through the foundation modules; cohort 3 is
progressing through the foundation modules.

Three foundation modules provide a solid
platform on which to progress to the
remaining modules. They are:
• Well organised ward: An approach to
simplifying the workplace. Looking at
the environment ‘with fresh eyes’ to
make sure everything is in the right
place at the right time.
• Patient status at a glance: Using visual
management to enable the team to
access patient information ‘at a
glance’.
• Knowing how we are doing: Using
ward based measures to measure and
track improvements against the four

q What is your job title and what
does your role entail?
a Catering manager based at the Wells
Road Centre providing food for patients,
staff and visitors. Also providing corporate
hospitality for events both inside the Trust
and external events.

work and the forthcoming events.

This issue we meet
catering manager
Martyn Poxon

q What do you see as your priorities
for Nottinghamshire Healthcare?
a Good quality patient care and I
particularly strive to provide a
healthy balanced diet with lots of
choice for all our service users of all
ages and cultures.

q&a

q

What is the best piece of advice
you have ever been given?
a Advice from my mother: “Son, get a
proper driving licence if you are going to
drive that Porsche.” I took note!

q What was the last CD you bought?
a Eva Cassidy.
q What is your greatest achievement?
a Surviving 33 years in the NHS.

To find out more about the programme visit
the Releasing Time to Care site on the
Intranet or contact the team office at
Duncan Macmillan House on 0115
9529491.

q What keeps you awake at night?
a Work; I often wake up thinking about

How long have you been with
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust?
a 33 Years.

What is your employment
background?
a I have been in catering for all my
working life.

RTtC has provided ward teams with an
opportunity to reflect upon ward
organisation and processes. The foundation
modules have provided opportunities to
ensure environments are utilised to their full
potential and are user friendly, helping staff
deliver safe and supportive high quality
services.

logs with a cool drink and listening to my
favourite music.

q

q

Page 12

q What makes you angry?
a Living with diabetes.

q What are you most passionate about?
a Friends and family and their wellbeing.
q

What single thing would improve
your working life at Nottinghamshire
Healthcare?
a Finding a cure for my diabetes so that I
feel fit and well every day.

q What is your favourite hobby?
a Attending to my garden and enjoying
relaxing outside with my chimney burning

q What is your favourite film?
a Lord of the Rings.
q What is your idea of bliss?
a Simply enjoying good health.
q

What three words would you use to
describe yourself?
a Open, honest and loyal.

q

What is your favourite holiday
destination?
a Antigua.

q

Who would you take to a desert
island?
a My family.

q

Where do you see yourself in 10
years’ time?
a Hopefully alive and retired.

q Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?
a I met Pierce Brosnan in Antigua airport.
q

How would you like to be
remembered?
a With passion that I have been a good lad
on this earth.

Positive August 2010

11

Positive August 2010:twc news

4/8/10

17:00

Page 1

Arnold Lodge
hosts World
Cup theme day
Staff and patients at Arnold Lodge
celebrated the World Cup in style by
holding their own theme day
organised by the Events Committee.
Patients worked together before the
event making decorations for the
unit and designing and making
World Cup-inspired T-shirts to wear
on the day.
A sweepstake gave each patient a team
to support throughout the tournament
and a chance to win prizes. Activities on
the day included a football skills
challenge with professional footballers
from Nottinghamshire County FC.
Patients and staff tried their hands (and
feet) at a number of activities designed
to test their skill and agility levels
including dribbling through palm trees,
passing accuracy, chipping the ball

A service user tries his penalty skills
against a professional goalkeeper.

through a target and a heading
challenge, as well as the chance to score
a penalty past a professional goalkeeper.
Also on offer was the chance to be
photographed with rare memorabilia
signed by the England 1966 team.
Patients were treated to a barbecue
lunch served outside in the sunshine
and the afternoon saw patients and staff
cheering England on to a win against

NVQ congratulations
Congratulations to Ingrid
Shipman, Admin Manager for
the Nottinghamshire
Personality Disorder &
Development Network
(NPDDN) at Mandala
Centre. Ingrid
achieved her NVQ
Level 3 in Business
& Administration in
Ingrid
Shipman
May, and New

College Nottingham’s course
assessor confirmed that she
did so with an exceptionally
high attainment level.
“I am very pleased that as a
mature student I was able to
pass the NVQ,” said Ingrid.
“I’m sure that what I have
learnt in the course will
benefit the NPDDN and I hope
to be able to study for a
management course next.”

Slovenia in the sports hall, which had
been transformed into a sports stadium
complete with singing, vuvuzelas and
half time refreshments.
The Events Committee chair James
Routen put the success of the day down
to excellent team work throughout the
unit, and commented that if the
England players had worked as well
together they could have won the
tournament!

As part of the Local
Services Division
Estates strategy,
Regent Street and
Rosebery House in
Nottingham have
been put up for
sale. The proceeds
from these sales
will be ploughed
back into Local Services. This strategy
will see us occupying less premises and
more co-location with partners.

WHO WE ARE... WE NEED YOU!
You may have picked up this copy
of the newsletter not knowing
what Nottinghamshire Healthcare
NHS Trust is. We provide mental
health and learning disability
services for the whole of
Nottinghamshire. We also
manage medium-secure units in
Leicester and Rotherham, and the
high-secure Rampton Hospital
near Retford.

Printed on Revive · 100% recycled paper

12

If you have any ideas or suggestions for the newsletter, please contact Suzanne Aitken in the
Trust Communications Team on 0115 955 5403 or via email at suzanne.aitken@nottshc.nhs.uk.
We are always pleased to receive articles for possible publication, but ask that they do not exceed
300 words. If any individuals other than yourself are mentioned in what you write or featured in
accompanying photographs, please make sure you check with them that they are happy to be
potentially featured. Please note that the Communications Team has full editorial control and may have
to edit articles appropriately. Therefore, if you want to see the final version please ensure you send
your article in with plenty of time before the deadline and state clearly what you require.
If you would like copies of any past editions of Positive, or if you are having any ‘distribution issues’
with the newsletter – whether you’re receiving too many copies, too few, or none at all then please
contact us. If you would like your story in the November issue of Positive, please contact us
by 15 October 2010. However, due to space constraints we cannot guarantee the publication of all
articles received by the deadline.
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, The Resource, Duncan MacMillan House,
Porchester Road, Nottingham, NG3 6AA. Tel 0115 9934545 · Fax 0115 9934546
www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk